Larry Leroy Henderson

Larry L. Henderson, 81, of Independence, MO passed away on September 12, 2022 surrounded by his family as he took his last breath. He was born in Salem, OR, October 1, 1940 to Joseph and Edith Henderson. He is survived by Sharon Sims Henderson, his wife of 59 years, sons Michael and Christopher Henderson, sisters Joann Carter and Patricia Rickart and sister-in-law Delores Henderson. Larry is predeceased by his parents, Joe and Edith and his younger brother, Robert (Bob) Henderson.

Larry graduated from East High School in 1958 and from Central Missouri State College in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. After graduation, Larry attended Air Force Officers' Training School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in November 1962. He and Sharon were married November 10, happy that the wedding didn't have to be postponed because all base personnel had been confined to base during the Cuban missile crisis.

In his twenty year Air Force career, Larry was trained and certified as a nuclear weapons officer at Lowrey AFB, CA, radar navigator and electronic warfare officer at Mather AFB, CA. He served as OIC (officer in charge) of the weapons maintenance unit at Paine Field, WA, launch pad supervisor at Vandenberg AFB, CA, member of a B-52 crew at Blytheville AFB, AR, platform/classroom instructor in electronic warfare at Castle AFB, CA., weapons system officer on an F-4 fighter at Homestead AFB, FL, and OIC of a helicopter squadron and liaison to assist foreign (German and Egyptian) officers at George AFB, CA. He served two temporary duty tours in Thailand during the Vietnam War and completed over 100 B-52 missions. Larry was an F-4 flight leader during a year tour of duty in Korea. Larry retired from the Air Force with a rank of Major. After retirement, Larry took a position as a project manager at Lockheed Aerospace Company and later at General Dynamics. Moving back home to Missouri in 1993, Larry took a position in sales with Libby Generators, as an electrical department associate and department manager at Home Depot then with Leviton as merchandiser/vendor representative for the greater Kansas City market.

Larry was an avid bowler from the age of 14, bowled in several leagues each week and was a member of the George AFB bowling team. He once was awarded a fun trophy by a mixed doubles bowling league for having the widest point range between his lowest and highest scores. Received a LOT of teasing about that! Sharon remarked she should've known what to expect in the future when Larry attended a college bowling tournament in Springfield leaving Sharon to attend a spring ball with a fraternity brother where she was crowned Sweetheart of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. When Larry's knee went south, he concentrated on his golf game and continued to play slow pitch softball even though another team member had to run bases for him. His slow pitch curve ball frustrated many competing team players. Larry was a fierce competitor in everything he did whether sports or board and card games and rarely lost at Trivia. Although he preferred to win, and typically did, he was usually a gracious loser. He enjoyed reading crime, mystery, western, and science fiction novels and never tired watching old western movies even though he knew the story plots by heart. His music preferences were country western and classical which seemed odd because they were so far apart.

He and Sharon shared many interests especially searching for treasures, antiques and collectibles at antique stores, flea markets and garage sales. They enjoyed camping and traveling early in their marriage particularly during cross-country trips between base assignments and later when visiting family in Missouri. Living in California at four bases for 25 years afforded many opportunities to visit picturesque and historical sights. A special trip was traveling to Ireland for their 50th wedding anniversary.

A Military Service is scheduled at 11:00 am on October 21, 2022 at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, MO and a Celebration of Life Gathering will take place in early November near what would've have been Larry and Sharon's 60th wedding anniversary. Instead of flowers, the family has suggested contributions to Wayside Waifs or the Cerebral Palsy Association.